This map is a collaborative resource for the interdisciplinary seminar HONS3260, Oscar Wilde and the art of percepiton
Pinpoint a place that represents an important location for your research topic. Explain what happened there and why it is significant. Also be sure to explain how it relates to questions of perception or aesthetics.
Considered to be the real life counterpart of the Mount Olympus featured in Greek mythology, this is where it was said that the Greek gods lived as they watched over humans. This is also where Achilles' mother, the nymph Thetis, asks Hephaestus to forge armour for Achilles twice, first when he is young and second after Patroclus, who donned Achilles' armour, dies in battle. He crafted Achilles his fabled shield as well here, which Achilles uses it in his battle against Hector.
As the city of Troy was surrounded by high walls that could not be breached, a majority of the fights took place outside of Troy, many of which in or around the river Skamandros. In modern times, it is also known as the Karamenderes River, and during The Illiad it was also considered the home of a minor god of the same name. The river god was one of many that had gotten involved in the conflict, choosing Troy's side, that fought against other gods.
As The Illiad begins several years after the actual start of the Trojan War, the first described battle is the sacking of Chryse by Agamemnon and his Achaean forces. Chryse is a target due to its alliance with Troy, and from here Agamemnon captures the maidens Chryseis and Briseis. While Agamemnon takes Chryseis for himself, he gives Briseis to Achilles, his greatest warrior. Unfortunately, Chryseis' father, Chryses, prays to Apollo for help - who, in turn, sends down nine days of plague upon the Archaeans.
In modern day, the exact location of Troy can only be assumed based upon information from ancient texts and excavation efforts. Yet, within The Illiad, it becomes the focal point for the Trojan War. Here, Agamemmon wages war against the Trojans in effort to reclaim Helen, who was stolen by Paris years prior after Aphrodite has promised her to him despite Helen already being married. Troy was described as having high impenadrable walls, leading to the use of the famous Trojan Horse in order to get into the city walls in other texts.
Starting in the middle of the Trojan War, The Illiad begins at the city of Chryse, where Agamemmon leads the Achaean forces in sacking the city for being aligned to Troy. Here, he captures the maidens Chryseis and Briseis, taking Chryseis for himself while giving Briseis to Achilles. After Apollo sending down a plague upon the Archaean forces, Agamemmon returns Chryseis, and in turn demands Briseis from Achilles. This begins one of the central points of The Illiad, when Achilles refuses to fight for the Greeks after being slighted in Agamemmon in this way.
